Hello festive December. Folly reopens in a new location.
A Condé Nast Traveller hat trick. Cheese and charcuterie boards. Gourmet food deliveries including freshly baked quiche by a French chef. Foodie gift ideas.
As we’re kicking off the long National Day weekend, I am getting this bumper December newsletter in your inboxes a day early to give you plenty of reading time.
Just in time for Christmas, much-loved Folly reopens in a new location. At Address Montgomerie Hotel in Emirates Hills, with its own dedicated entrance to the right of the hotel overlooking the golf course. A British concept by the name of Folly Brasserie. The head chef is Michael O’Shea who opened The Nine gastro pub at Sofitel Obelisk (before moving to Hilton), and the man responsible for crafting Dubai’s best roast, in my opinion - Dingley Dell pork and cauliflower cheese croquettes included. I am keeping my fingers crossed for a pork licence here too. Having sneaked in for a peek recently, the striking orangery-meets-conservatory design and an expansive terrace overlook the golf course lake. There’s a private opening event on the 10th December, with the restaurant scheduled for a public launch mid-December. Follow Folly’s Instagram for updates, and mine. Full disclosure for those who aren’t aware: I picked Folly for our wedding party six plus years ago, with anniversary celebrations following, so we have a soft spot and much affection for the homegrown brand.
Whilst on the F-word, you might like to know that ex-Folly OG chefs Nick Alvis and Bojan Cirjanic are opening a new restaurant in the new year. Where? A beach-fronted Dubai resort 😜 Stay tuned for more.
A magazine hat trick…
I tend to prioritise writing for this newsletter and my website…unless Condé Nast calls. A hat trick with the current print editions of Conde Nast Traveler/ Traveller - USA, UK & Middle East:
I was first approached in the summer by the US edition for a commission on my favourite subject, Dubai’s homegrown dining scene. Across eight pages in the December issue, I have showcased restaurateurs and chefs who have planted roots in Dubai paying tribute to their national cuisine and embracing local ingredients.
The same story repackaged with a few edits and a different visual spread is published in the UK December edition across ten pages.
And a commission for the Middle East issue themed on the Spice Route. My interviews with chefs here and around the world on their favourite spice is in the November/ December edition across five pages.
I’ve also just received confirmation that the Dubai story is repackaged for the January/ February print issue of CNT Middle East which, I guess, makes the hat trick a ‘haul’!
How to read?
UK story PDF HERE. Will go online later this month.
Middle East feature HERE.
Both the US & UK print editions can also be downloaded via subscription on Zinio and Magzter. And the magazines are on the shelves.
A rather poignant project as I once volunteered for summer work experience at sister publication Vogue magazine in London, whilst studying for a degree in fashion. The original Hanover Square HQ before Conde Nast’s recent relocation. Maybe that’s where I fell in love with food whilst making toast for the editors, and fetching glorious baguette sandwiches from the neighbouring deli. Bring back those heady days when everyone carb-loaded with zero fear. For years, CNT UK has been THE magazine I always buy at airports…and Vogue!
Even though the story’s voice in the Dubai feature is very different to mine, I am proud to celebrate our independent restaurateurs and chefs…all under my byline. A fitting UAE National Day and year-end tribute to our beloved F&B industry.
Gourmet food platters & deliveries…
The number one question I get asked in December is…where can I get cheeseboard deliveries? If you’re staying put over the festive season and are entertaining at home, we’re lucky to have several independent gourmet food delis on our Dubai doorstep that deliver more than cheeseboards. All of the following recommendations are tried and tasted by yours truly.
Prime Gourmet, Les Gastronomes and Carnistore for premium red meat and artisan condiments.
Odeon for seafood platters including shucked oysters. And béarnaise of dreams. I also booked Odeon for at-home party catering over the summer.
Maison Duffour for sulphate/ nitrate-free pork charcuterie (platters included), and buckwheat galettes.
The Fishmonger (new sibling to Prime Gourmet) at Town Centre, Jumeirah 1 for Dubai's first dedicated bricks & mortar fishmonger including deli-style seafood salads and sushi.
As a cheesaholic, I buy cheese from multiple retailers including some of the aforementioned, and Spinneys of course. Maison Morand, however, offers the most eye-catching cheeseboard deliveries (with halal charcuterie should you wish) - pictured above.
Quiche 'N Croque is a new food truck at Ripe Market by French chef Laurent Michel. Dedicated to quiche baking (and croque toasties). Delivery by slice or whole pies. Buttery, flakey shortcrust pastry of dreams. The Scottish salmon with leek, dill and crème fraîche is my fave.
Zois Fine Food for a taste of home with Greek produce, barrel-aged feta included.
And we all need bread in our life…Birch Bakery for all things sourdough. I also love Baker’s Kitchen for its low-gluten oat bread.
Festive foodie gift ideas…
Palestinian foodie gift boxes & hampers. Cypher is known in Dubai as a coffee roastery, but I discovered this Palestinian-owned business for its Nabtih range of extra virgin olive oil and spices - all beautifully packaged. Online orders with next-day delivery.
Who doesn’t love an advent calendar, especially when food and drink themed? Here are a few goodies from homegrown Dubai brands:
MMI 12-day wine & spirit calendar, pictured below. AED299.
Mirzam 24-day chocolate calendar. AED75.
Avantcha 24-day tea calendar. Four options, starting from AED300.
Bateel 24-day chocolate calendar. Oddly no sign of dates. AED315.
I am desperate for a cheese advent calendar if you come across one. Sadly, Spinneys no longer stocks them.
Three cookbooks and two food memoirs…
Fadi Kattan’s Bethlehem cookbook. A celebration of Palestinian food and culture from Franco-Palestinian chef Fadi, a resident of Bethlehem, and owner of Akub restaurant in London. Published in May. I stumbled upon Palestinian travel and recipe writer Lama Obeid, a Ramallah resident, here on Substack in this engaging passport privilege story she penned - and as a result of this connection, she very kindly shared the following soundbite from an unpublished interview with Fadi recently.
Without hummus for two weeks [over the pandemic], and suspecting other Palestinians experienced the same, Kattan got to work. “In every town, in every city, in every village, there is one shop that has been making fantastic hummus for generations,” Kattan said, explaining why not all Palestinians make it at home. Kattan shares the food and recipes he ate growing up in Bethlehem in his book, along with recipes of Palestine to celebrate the cuisine. He does not want the book to become a documentation of places that no longer exist. There are stories and photos in the book of Battir, a Palestinian village and UNESCO heritage site that Israel has recently declared its intentions to steal.
Stanley Tucci’s new memoir What I Ate In One Year, hot-off-the-press. A record of his 12 months of eating in restaurants, at home, film sets and press trips around the world. Spoiler: he devours pasta!
Tessa Kiros’ latest cookbook Now & Then. Personally signed by Tessa on her recent visit to Dubai. Her multi-cultural heritage (she is Finnish-Greek-Cypriot; born in London; raised in South Africa; and lives in Tuscany) is embedded across all 11 of her celebrated cookbooks. Now & Then boasts a collection of recipes from her travels. Available for collection directly from Avli and Flamingo Room restaurants in Dubai until the 15th December or until stocks last. Beautifully wrapped, like you can see below. AED140. Beats an Amazon purchase.
Greg and Lucy Malouf’s last book together before Greg’s untimely passing a couple of months ago - Suqar. A James Beard Foundation award winner, the Oscars of the cookbook world. Middle Eastern-influenced desserts for those with a sweet tooth.
Ben Shewry’s new memoir, Uses for Obsession. Against my better judgement, I have placed an order for this big-name Australian chef’s memoir. He goes on a rant about restaurants awards and food critics! Let’s see how my blood pressure copes once the book lands on my doorstep.
Bar Greg’s book which I’ve had for a few years, I’ve bought all of these as Christmas pressies to myself. Much reading and cooking awaits.
A shameless plug of mine. Perhaps consider an annual subscription to this newsletter with the added bonus of restaurant reviews, breaking news, advance notice of my dining experiences, invitations to special events like next week’s La Nina festive dinner, and direct message access to moi. You’ll have my forever love.
You may have missed…
I always get a kick from the videos of my dinners, and am guilty of replaying these time and time again. The organisation of these events mimics those of weddings, with the addition of guests who have bought tickets, so it’s heartening to have a memento. Here’s the video of my last #FourChefsDinner. Another sold-out dining experience. 95 guests. You might end up dancing to the music like I do 😉
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My 2024 guide to Dubai’s top restaurants. A record 45 homegrown concepts. Paid subscribers also receive a PDF of this guide.
I update My Little Pink Lifestyle Book with new finds every month.
A private one-hour Zoom call with me to pick my brains. More info here for F&B industry enquiries - and here for foodie/ diner queries.
I leave you with my unwavering hope for an end to the genocide with a free Palestine and Lebanon. A ceasefire is not enough 🍉🇵🇸🇱🇧🕊️
FooDiva. x